RFU count cost of 'bloodgate'

The reputation of rugby has been damaged in the wake of the Harlequins
'bloodgate' scandal, the chairman of the Rugby Football Union has said.

Controversy: new checks will be put in place to assess blood injuriesPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Telegraph staff and agencies

12:17PM BST 23 Aug 2009

Martyn Thomas said the sport could have "done without" the bad publicity, but vowed that measures will be put in place in an attempt to stamp out further incidents.

Former Harlequins physiotherapist Steph Brennan yesterday resigned from his role with the Rugby Football Union, after being banned for two years by European Cup disciplinary chiefs following his role in 'bloodgate'.

Rugby union is still reeling from the fall-out of last season's Heineken Cup quarter-final between Quins and Leinster, and the damaging fake blood scandal that saw Brennan, former Quins rugby director Dean Richards and player Tom Williams all banned.

Richards has taken responsibility for organising the fake injury that saw Williams go off six minutes from time to be replaced by Quins' top kicker Nick Evans, who had earlier departed the game through injury. Only a blood injury could have seen Evans go back on.

Thomas said: "The sport could have done without it. It's clearly damaged the reputation of rugby. We have got to recognise that the damage has been done."

Thomas said spectator and public confidence in the sport had to be repaired but he had no knowledge of any other fake blood injury incidents. But he accepted they may have taken place following admissions from other players who had "no axe to grind".

He was concerned such theatrical devices were being used on the pitch.

"It's not Hamlet, it's rugby," he said.

Thomas added that rugby chiefs were discussing the issue of having independent doctors at games to assess players.

Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty said new injury checks are set to be brought in for the new Guinness Premiership season in response to the Harlequins 'bloodgate' scandal.

Under the plans, players leaving the field with blood injuries in Premiership matches would be assessed by opposition medical experts to confirm there is no attempt to cheat.

McCafferty is determined to avoid any similar incidents in the Premiership.

He said: "I will be talking to the clubs and the board about regulations that will allow the opposing team doctor to verify any blood injury and I cannot see anyone objecting to this.

"Such a sanction will provide the deterrent to ensure blood capsules and fake blood injuries will never happen again.

"We have a scheduled board meeting on Sept 3 and I see no reason why this new rule cannot be in place in time for Sale's game against Leicester the following night."